An extrusion apparatus includes a diagnostic system with a material processing section and an extruder screw disposed for rotation in a barrel and surrounded by a shroud assembly. The apparatus includes a temperature control system with heater sand cooler. The apparatus includes a speed control apparatus that has a drive unit and a speed variation device that is coupled to the extruder screw. The apparatus includes a diagnostic system in communication with the material processing section and/or the speed control apparatus. The diagnostic system includes a sensor system in communication with the material processing section and/or the speed control apparatus; and a computer processor in communication with the sensor system and a computer. The computer processor includes a computer readable medium that employs one or more algorithms and that are executable by the computer to generate signals characterizing performance of the material processing section and/or the speed control apparatus

In an extrusion molding apparatus according to an embodiment, a control unit configured to perform feedback control for a rotation speed of a pump so as to bring a pressure measured by a pressure sensor closer to a target pressure determines a current state and a reward for an action selected in the past based on a difference between the measured pressure and the target pressure, updates a control condition, which is a combination of a state and an action, based on the reward, selects an optimum action corresponding to the current state under the updated control condition, and controls the rotation speed of the pump based on the optimum action.

Systems and approaches for controlling an injection molding machine having a mold forming a mold cavity and being controlled according to an injection cycle include extruding a molten polymer according to an extrusion profile and measuring at least one variable during the extrusion profile with a first sensor. At least one extrusion operational parameter is adjusted based on the measured variable. The extrusion profile is terminated upon the molten polymer exceeding a first threshold, and the molten polymer is injected into the mold cavity according to an injection profile via a screw that moves from a first position to a second position. Upon completion of the injection profile, a recovery profile commences in which the screw is moved to the first position.

An extruder for polymeric materials, includes: a hollow extrusion cylinder, having an inlet for receiving pellets of polymeric material, and an outlet for expelling molten polymeric material; an extruder screw connected to a motor to rotate inside the extrusion cylinder and to move the polymeric material from the inlet to the outlet; heaters coupled to the extrusion cylinder; a sensor system configured to measure values of a recipe parameter and of a monitoring parameter; a processing unit, programmed to store a target value for the recipe parameter and to perform a feedback control to bring the recipe parameter to the target value and to keep it at the target value.

A method enabling the selection, modification and/or creation of polymer materials which can provide improved response to the application of local shear and/or extensional deformation inside the polymer melt in manufacturing technologies including injection molding, injection stretch blow molding, direct injection, extrusion blow molding, sheet extrusion, thermoforming, etc., is provided. A method for manufacturing a polymer article includes injecting or extruding molten polypropylene, polyethylene or polyester based polymer for converting it into semi-final shape while applying shear and/or extensional deformation on the polymer melt. Applying shear and/or extensional deformation on the polymer melt includes selectively modifying the flow path of the molten semi-crystallizable polymer as a function of local pressure profile over at least part of the flow path. Local pressure profile is a function of optimized response of the polymer melt to the applied local shear and/or extensional deformation over at least the part of the flow path.

A system for adjusting a gap in a slot die for producing a polymeric web. The system includes a slot die that has a polymer reservoir that extends between a polymer inlet and a melt outlet. The melt outlet has a first edge and a second edge that each extend longitudinally along the melt outlet. The second edge is opposite the first edge. A plurality of actuators move the second edge along a plurality of positions along a length of the second edge. The first edge is spaced apart from the second edge by a gap that has an adjustable profile. A pressure sensor communicates with the reservoir and measures the pressure of the polymer in the reservoir. A control unit with an algorithm correlates the profile of the gap to the pressure in the reservoir. The algorithm is configured to generate control signals to cause the profile of the gap to be uniform.

A method and a facility produce polylactide (PLA) by polymerization, in which a lactide mixture is mixed with at least one catalyst, is introduced into a modular planetary roller extruder and the finished PLA is then removed. The lactide mixture continuously passes through segments of the extruder. The course of the reaction is measured and controlled in the segments in a targeted manner such that the temperature can be set by heating and/or cooling. The pressure can be variably set depending on pressure values to be checked by a controllable gas extraction and/or a controllable extruder speed and/or static variability of the planetary rollers and/or a variable metering speed of the lactide mixture and/or a variable mixing ratio of the lactide mixture. Flammable gas is removed in an explosion-protected zone in a partial region of the extruder. Additives are introduced into the extruder during the rolling process.

The present invention relates to a plastic based high density wood fiber composite (HDWFC) product and a method for manufacturing said composite product. The invention also relates to an apparatus for manufacturing said composite product.

A plastic film of a thermoplastic synthetic resin is made in a film-making system by extrusion from a die of an extruder. First the plastic is melted and extruded from the die as a tube or web that is, typically after cooling and stretching, formed into a package. At least one reference parameter is provided, and, during continuous operation of the system, two input parameters different from the reference parameter are measured by respective measuring devices An output is determined from these reference parameters and is compared with the reference parameter.

Provided is a kneading device that can check a progress of wear of an inner wall face of a kneading chamber provided in a casing without stopping the kneading device. A kneading device includes a sensor-mount space provided in a wall of a casing, a wear detecting sensor of which a detecting section is disposed at a bottom of the sensor-mount space, and a controller that receives a signal output from the wear detecting sensor, the controller including a wear determining unit that determines that wear of an inner wall face of a kneading chamber has progressed based on a change in the signal.